MONTEVIDEO, Feb 8: The European Union plans to open a humanitarian aid office in Venezuela soon to control the distribution of humanitarian support in the country, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said in a briefing after a meeting of the International Contact Group (ICG) on Venezuela in Montevideo.
“The European Union is ready to open a humanitarian aid office in Caracas in the coming weeks to make sure that this happens in the proper manner in coordination with the relevant UN bodies,” Mogherini told reporters on Thursday.
Mogerini noted that in 2018 and in the beginning of 2019, the European Union mobilized almost 60 million euros to support the Venezuelan people in the country as well as in neighboring states.
“We attach great importance to the routes of the humanitarian assistance to be effective, but also it has to be properly managed,” Mogherini said.
On January 23, Juan Guaido declared himself to be Venezuela’s interim president. President Nicolas Maduro has said the move was orchestrated by the United States as part of an anti-government coup in Venezuela and he informed Washington of his decision to sever diplomatic relations.
Venezuela is facing a humanitarian emergency, including food and medicine shortages. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela worldwide reached 3 million in 2018.
(AGENCIES)
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